# Pearl rice shari at Sushi Hibi, a Yeongdeungpo omakase restaurant

- By Boram (https://superchart.com/en/@vanity-drawer/)
- Written Sep 21, 2026
- Local places › Restaurants › Yeongdeungpo, Seoul
- Sponsored: This post was written as part of a paid visit sponsorship.
- English edition: https://superchart.com/en/@vanity-drawer/sushi-hibi-yeongdeungpo-jinju-rice-lunch/
- Also in: [한국어](https://superchart.com/ko/@vanity-drawer/sushi-hibi-yeongdeungpo-jinju-rice-lunch/index.md)

## In short

Sushi Hibi is an omakase sushi restaurant in an alley near Yeongdeungpo-gu Office Station in Seoul, where the lunch course is 50,000 won per person. Sitting at the counter with an old friend, the writer worked through egg tofu, sunomono, flounder sashimi, sweet shrimp, ankimo (monkfish liver) and maki, and heard the chef explain the Jinju pearl rice used for the shari. Sushi Hibi is remembered less for being a bargain than for the care put into its ingredients and its rice.

## Good to know

- **Address**: 14-1 Dangsan-ro 32-gil, 1F, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul
- **Getting there**: About 2–5 minutes on foot from Exit 4, Yeongdeungpo-gu Office Station
- **Lunch omakase**: 50,000 won per person
- **Dinner omakase**: 100,000 won per person
- **Seating**: 2 private rooms and 8 counter seats
- **Service**: Two seatings each for lunch and dinner while the restaurant is newly opened
- **Reservations**: Book online in advance, for example through Catch Table
- **Parking**: No dedicated lot; the nearby Yeongdeungpo District Council public parking lot is recommended
- **Price reference**: ₩50,000 ≈ $36 (2026-09-21)

*as written by the visitor on Sep 21, 2026*

![Main photo of Sushi Hibi Yeongdeungpo-gu Office branch lunch omakase](https://img.superchart.com/images/sushi-hibi-yeongdeungpo-jinju-rice-lunch/sushi-hibi-yeongdeungpo-jinju-rice-lunch-01-1e6w3-1200.webp)

It was a day to meet a dear old friend I hadn't seen in a while. Since my friend lives near Yeongdeungpo-gu Office Station, we decided to have lunch in that area this time. Since we both love omakase, I thought it'd be nice to enjoy it together, so we went to Sushi Hibi's Yeongdeungpo-gu Office branch.

We used to travel to Japan together for work, so it almost felt like being back in Japan again — nostalgic! This was my first time here since it's a new spot, and after the meal I already thought I'd have to come back with my husband. The lunch price was satisfying, but what stuck with me more was the quality ingredients and the chef's genuine care. It was the first place I'd thought would blow up even without reviews. Let me introduce it.

## A quiet sushi counter hidden in a busy Yeongdeungpo alley

Sushi Hibi sits down an alley in the nightlife district near Yeongdeungpo-gu Office Station. As I was walking toward it, I honestly wondered whether an omakase sushi restaurant could really be in a place like this — huh, here?? Maybe that's why they put up a menu board at the entrance and a big banner next to the shop.

But once inside, the atmosphere completely changed. The interior was tastefully done and the space felt calm, like arriving at a secret regulars-only spot only we knew about.

![Sushi Hibi's calm interior atmosphere](https://img.superchart.com/images/sushi-hibi-yeongdeungpo-jinju-rice-lunch/sushi-hibi-yeongdeungpo-jinju-rice-lunch-02-wv23x-966.webp)

It suited a slightly special lunch with an old friend really well. The restaurant has 2 rooms and 8 counter seats. Sitting at the counter, we could watch the chef preparing the food up close, which is the charm of omakase!

Since the restaurant is still newly opened, the chef runs lunch and dinner in two separate seatings each, focusing on raising the quality of the food. Rather than taking in as many guests as possible at once, this way of running things — giving attention to each course — was impressive.

## Sushi Hibi Yeongdeungpo-gu Office: prices, seats and directions

- Address: 14-1 Dangsan-ro 32-gil, 1F, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, South Korea
- Location: About 2–5 minutes on foot from Exit 4, Yeongdeungpo-gu Office Station
- Lunch omakase: ₩50,000 per person / Dinner omakase: ₩100,000 per person
- Reservation: Online booking in advance, e.g. Catch Table
- Parking: No dedicated lot (the Yeongdeungpo District Council office is nearby, so using the public parking lot there is a good option)

Since seating is limited and the courses run in separate time slots, booking through Catch Table is a must! Check the reservation page and Instagram before visiting for prices and hours.

![The kitchen area seen from the counter seats at Sushi Hibi](https://img.superchart.com/images/sushi-hibi-yeongdeungpo-jinju-rice-lunch/sushi-hibi-yeongdeungpo-jinju-rice-lunch-03-1xtu8-966.webp)

![Counter seating setup at Sushi Hibi](https://img.superchart.com/images/sushi-hibi-yeongdeungpo-jinju-rice-lunch/sushi-hibi-yeongdeungpo-jinju-rice-lunch-04-nqd5i-966.webp)

![Interior design details at Sushi Hibi](https://img.superchart.com/images/sushi-hibi-yeongdeungpo-jinju-rice-lunch/sushi-hibi-yeongdeungpo-jinju-rice-lunch-05-qptv9-966.webp)

![View around the counter at Sushi Hibi](https://img.superchart.com/images/sushi-hibi-yeongdeungpo-jinju-rice-lunch/sushi-hibi-yeongdeungpo-jinju-rice-lunch-06-whie5-966.webp)

![Table setting at Sushi Hibi before the lunch course began](https://img.superchart.com/images/sushi-hibi-yeongdeungpo-jinju-rice-lunch/sushi-hibi-yeongdeungpo-jinju-rice-lunch-07-sdv8h-m-966.webp)

## The lunch course opens with egg tofu and sunomono

The first dish out in Sushi Hibi's lunch course was egg tofu (dashimaki-style savory custard). Starting off gently made me even more excited for what was next.

![Egg tofu, the first dish of the lunch course](https://img.superchart.com/images/sushi-hibi-yeongdeungpo-jinju-rice-lunch/sushi-hibi-yeongdeungpo-jinju-rice-lunch-08-xoj5q-966.webp)

Next came sunomono (vinegared appetizer) with seaweed, fig, and octopus. It's a starter dressed with a bright soy-based sauce, and the unusual yet refreshing combination of ingredients was a great way to wake up the palate.

![Sunomono with seaweed, fig, and octopus](https://img.superchart.com/images/sushi-hibi-yeongdeungpo-jinju-rice-lunch/sushi-hibi-yeongdeungpo-jinju-rice-lunch-09-13y7p-966.webp)

After that we had two pieces of flounder sashimi before moving into the real sushi course. One piece with salt, one with soy sauce and wasabi... ah, so good, my favorite fish, flounder.

![Flounder sashimi served with salt and soy sauce with wasabi](https://img.superchart.com/images/sushi-hibi-yeongdeungpo-jinju-rice-lunch/sushi-hibi-yeongdeungpo-jinju-rice-lunch-10-1ogsc-966.webp)

![A plate with two pieces of flounder sashimi](https://img.superchart.com/images/sushi-hibi-yeongdeungpo-jinju-rice-lunch/sushi-hibi-yeongdeungpo-jinju-rice-lunch-11-9i74t-966.webp)

![Close-up of flounder sashimi](https://img.superchart.com/images/sushi-hibi-yeongdeungpo-jinju-rice-lunch/sushi-hibi-yeongdeungpo-jinju-rice-lunch-12-1neab-966.webp)

![The chef preparing sashimi](https://img.superchart.com/images/sushi-hibi-yeongdeungpo-jinju-rice-lunch/sushi-hibi-yeongdeungpo-jinju-rice-lunch-13-46bnr-966.webp)

Next was grilled Spanish mackerel (samchi-yaki), served with ponzu sauce. It brought a different flavor from the earlier appetizers.

![Grilled Spanish mackerel with ponzu sauce](https://img.superchart.com/images/sushi-hibi-yeongdeungpo-jinju-rice-lunch/sushi-hibi-yeongdeungpo-jinju-rice-lunch-14-c4agy-966.webp)

![A plate of grilled Spanish mackerel](https://img.superchart.com/images/sushi-hibi-yeongdeungpo-jinju-rice-lunch/sushi-hibi-yeongdeungpo-jinju-rice-lunch-15-klw9m-966.webp)

## Red sea bream, horse mackerel and sweet shrimp, one piece at a time

The sushi came out in the order of red sea bream, horse mackerel, and sweet shrimp. As the chef served each piece one at a time, he'd tell us stories about the ingredients too, which made eating even more fun. The thin threads of red chili on top looked so pretty, a treat for the eyes as well.

The sweet shrimp in particular left a strong impression. He said it was caught with a trap net bought at the dawn market. Tasting it, the sweetness was so vivid I thought, 'so this is what good sweet shrimp tastes like.' Apparently it's more expensive than regular shrimp. Since the size was a bit small, he gave us three pieces to balance out the portion!

Next came monkfish liver (ankimo) wrapped in seaweed. It's enjoyed differently from sushi, so it brought a nice change midway through the course. He scooped a generous amount of ankimo and casually wrapped it in seaweed for us — so good it melted in my mouth, ugh.

![Monkfish liver wrapped in seaweed](https://img.superchart.com/images/sushi-hibi-yeongdeungpo-jinju-rice-lunch/sushi-hibi-yeongdeungpo-jinju-rice-lunch-16-1kk59-966.webp)

![The chef placing monkfish liver onto seaweed](https://img.superchart.com/images/sushi-hibi-yeongdeungpo-jinju-rice-lunch/sushi-hibi-yeongdeungpo-jinju-rice-lunch-17-3sypp-966.webp)

The amberjack sushi came with yuzu kosho. The yuzu aroma was lovely, but the amberjack quality itself was top-notch too!

![Amberjack sushi topped with yuzu kosho](https://img.superchart.com/images/sushi-hibi-yeongdeungpo-jinju-rice-lunch/sushi-hibi-yeongdeungpo-jinju-rice-lunch-18-nz885-966.webp)

![A single piece of amberjack sushi at Sushi Hibi](https://img.superchart.com/images/sushi-hibi-yeongdeungpo-jinju-rice-lunch/sushi-hibi-yeongdeungpo-jinju-rice-lunch-19-1ioa5-966.webp)

![A single piece of mackerel sushi](https://img.superchart.com/images/sushi-hibi-yeongdeungpo-jinju-rice-lunch/sushi-hibi-yeongdeungpo-jinju-rice-lunch-20-1wsgj-966.webp)

![A single piece of eel sushi](https://img.superchart.com/images/sushi-hibi-yeongdeungpo-jinju-rice-lunch/sushi-hibi-yeongdeungpo-jinju-rice-lunch-21-6i6f3-966.webp)

The mackerel and eel were also delicious! The mackerel had absolutely zero fishy smell — my friend, who normally finds mackerel hard to eat, said she really enjoyed it this time.

Next was tuna loin, which had been marinated in soy sauce before the course even started, and it melted the moment it hit my mouth.

![Tuna loin sushi marinated in soy sauce](https://img.superchart.com/images/sushi-hibi-yeongdeungpo-jinju-rice-lunch/sushi-hibi-yeongdeungpo-jinju-rice-lunch-22-busty-966.webp)

The maki (rolled sushi) that came near the end was also so good... I love gimbap (seaweed rice roll), so it always feels like something's missing without maki. Warm udon came alongside it too.

## Why the shari is so good: the chef's Jinju pearl rice

At Sushi Hibi, the shari (sushi rice) left as much of an impression as the fish that day. The rice was so delicious that I asked the chef directly what kind he used. I'd recently had an issue with some suhyangmi rice I bought, so I'd been a bit sensitive about rice lately.

He told me he buys pearl rice (jinju-ssal) directly from the growing region. When I later looked up the 'Donguibogam pearl rice' he mentioned, the price was... well, there was a reason it tasted so good. Thanks to that conversation, I also learned he personally goes to the dawn market at 4am every day to pick out other seasonal ingredients.

It's the kind of prep work you never think about while eating a single piece of sushi. Knowing how much care goes into choosing ingredients and even cooking the rice made the whole course feel even more special.

![Sushi Hibi sushi shaped with pearl rice shari](https://img.superchart.com/images/sushi-hibi-yeongdeungpo-jinju-rice-lunch/sushi-hibi-yeongdeungpo-jinju-rice-lunch-23-1ccuq-966.webp)

## Finishing with a cheesecake-like rolled omelet and strawberry sorbet

As the sushi course wound down, an omelet made with egg and shrimp meat arrived. It was so soft it felt like eating cheesecake. It looked pretty too, and made for a fitting close to the meal.

We finished the lunch course with a refreshing strawberry sorbet. From egg tofu to sunomono, grilled mackerel, flounder sashimi, various sushi pieces, all the way to udon and dessert — enjoying it course by course, I was almost sad when it ended.

## The chef's gruff-but-warm banter at the counter

At Sushi Hibi, it's not just the food but the conversation with the chef that stays with me. He'd explain the ingredients meticulously, then toss in offhand remarks here and there that were funny — a bit of a tsundere charm, haha. He naturally led the conversation so we could ask questions comfortably, which made the meal more enjoyable.

If you're new to omakase, you can enjoy it without pressure while listening to his explanations, and if you've done it many times before, you'll enjoy chatting about the ingredients and cooking methods.

![Omelet and strawberry sorbet closing out the lunch course](https://img.superchart.com/images/sushi-hibi-yeongdeungpo-jinju-rice-lunch/sushi-hibi-yeongdeungpo-jinju-rice-lunch-24-1mf7k-m-966.webp)

The ₩50,000 lunch price was satisfying, but I don't want to introduce this place simply as good-value omakase. The care put into choosing good rice and seasonal ingredients, the course unfolding piece by piece, and the chef's explanations and conversation — all of it was good.

I visited for the first time only because it's my friend's neighborhood, but I'd love to come back whenever I have plans near Yeongdeungpo-gu Office Station in the future. It was a happier lunch for being able to slowly enjoy good food with someone I was glad to see again.

## Where it is

- Sushi Hibi (스시히비)
- 14-1 Dangsan-ro 32-gil, 1F, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, South Korea
- 서울특별시 영등포구 당산로32길 14-1 1층
- 37.5260604, 126.8982575
- Google Maps: https://www.google.com/maps/search/%EC%8A%A4%EC%8B%9C%ED%9E%88%EB%B9%84/@37.5260604,126.8982575,17z

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